Process for toning colors in fabrics



Patented Feb. 2 1, 1928. v

IRA 13. roux, or ALHAMBRA, catiroanm.

PROCESS FOR TONING comes in FABRICS.

No Drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in the process of toning colors in fabrics com posed of animal and/or vegetable origin.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a process capable of reducing the vivid coloring in rugs and the like without injury to the same.

Fabrics of different character are generally woven with material which is strikingly colored with organic or vegetable dyes, or the fabric itself may be colored as a whole with a particular dye. ing applied to any particular fabric are generally strikingly apparent in the fabric to the end that it is necessary to tone the colors of such fabrics down before they are acceptable to the public for use.

A great many methods are in vogue for effecting such toning, but many defects exist in the same which it is now my purpose to eliminate. For instance, a method commonly in use is to treat a fabric with a dilute sulphuric acid wash whereby the fabric is totally saturated with the dilute acid to the endthat fabrics composed of a cotton warp and a wool nap thereon are seriously injured because the dilute acid, which is noninjurious to the Wool, is quite injurious to the cotton causing the same to disintegrate and in consequence thefabric becomes valueless in a very short period.

Other methods are in use for toning comprising different washes with water and scrubbing, but such methods are lengthy in their application and expensive in character. I have found that by preparing a carrier for a weak sulphuric acid solution and applying the carrier and sulphuric acid to a fabric, I am so enabled to regulate the application of the acid to the colored material to be toned that I can effect the toning of the wool. nap on a cotton warp so satiss 'l'actorily that the cotton will remain uniujured and the toning be effected to any desired degree. f

In the application of my process, I take a n'edetermined amount of acarrier, which is preferably a finely ground material such as diatomaceous earth, clay, or the like and mix therewith a sufiicient amount of a dilute sulphuric acid solution to form a thin paste. This paste is then spread over the surface of the fabric whose colors are to be toned down to the end that the liquid absorbed in the carrier will be transferred to the nap of Such dyes after he Applicationflled September 15, 1924. Serial No. 737,954.

the fabric by the greater capillary attraction of the same; The amount of acid solu tion to be thus transferred is gauged so that i only the nap of the fabric will be wetted thereby, in the car-5e of a fabric having a wool nap and a cotton warp,to the end that no acid solution reaches the cotton warp and y in this manner the action of the acid solution on the wool nap will effect the desired toning without injury to the cotton Warp.

At the same time it is to be understood thatthe application of my process is effective with fabrics composed of all wool and in this case the quantity of acid solution to be applied thereto can be predetermined in order not to effect undue wetting of the fabric.

The acid used is preferably commercial sulphuric acid of 66 B. strength and the solution made therefrom consists of 5 per cent of such acid with 95 per cent of water, the solution then-being mixed with the carrier to form a thin paste which may be spread with a trowel, an air gun, or other suitable means. I

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the proportions of water and acid above described to form my solution because the strength of said'solution will vary with the toning requirements of the fabric and thus it can be seen that there are fabrics which will require a solution comprising 15 per cent acid and 85 per cent water, or varying other proportions can be used effectively as required,

After the fabric has been treated with the acid carrying paste as described, the paste is allowed to dry and is then removed from the fabric by any siutable means. The fabric may then be washed with water to remove the residual acid, or the acid may be neutralized by the application of an earth mixed with an alkali and water and applied and removed. in the same manner as already described. In either event it will be seen that the effect of'the residual acid in the fabric is neutralized.

I have found a particuh'lr application of my invention in the toning of colors in im' ported rugs, such as Persian rugs and T have found that the toning can be effected most advantageously by my I process to the end that the rugs are in no way injured and the toning can be done at a minimum cost.

I claim 1. The process of toning colors in fabrics ducing a reduction of color therein by part of the acid then neutralizing the effect of the remaining acid.

4. A step in the process of toning colors in fabrics which consists in applying a comminuted medium carrying sulphuric acid to a colored fabric.

Signed at Wilmington, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 9th day of Sept. A. D. 1924.

IRA B. FUN K. 

